McSweeny Farms Newsletter – November 2024

November is here and we are so grateful to spend the Holiday season with you. Keep reading to see the fun we had at our Trunk or Treat event , what we have coming up and a new craft and recipe to try!

Alta by Richmond American Homes at McSweeny Farms: Pearl

The Pearl plan offers two stories of thoughtful living space. This home can be built with either a study or an extra bedroom. Toward the back of the home, you’ll find a dining nook, an open great room and a well-appointed kitchen with a center island, built-in pantry and adjacent covered patio. Upstairs, the impressive primary suite boasts an attached bath and an immense walk-in closet. The second floor can be built with either a loft or an extra bedroom. You’ll love the professionally curated finishes you can select with our design team!

2,380 Square Feet | 3-5 Beds | 2.5-3 Baths | 2 Car Garage | Two Story

Happy Gratitude Month

November is National Gratitude Month and there are so many ways to practice gratitude every day. Implementing daily gratitude exercises have many benefits for the mind and body–including brightening your outlook, increasing your mood and helping you feel more positive throughout the day. Here are just a few easy ways to acknowledge your gratitude.

Keep a gratitude journal
Write notes of appreciation
Revisit/Reframe past events
Practice mindfulness

To learn more about any of these practices, or about the benefits of practicing gratitude. Visit the HelpGuide post here.

Thanksgiving Craft – Turkey Puppet

We love crafts that are fun AND functional! These turkey paper bag puppets are easy to make and great to play with afterward! Tag us on Instagram @mcsweenyfarms with all of your completed creations!
Materials: 

  • Red, Black, Orange, and Yellow construction paper (or colors of your choice)
  • Googly eyes (use store bought, printables, or make your own!)
  • Paper bags
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Scotch tape
  • Leaves

Instructions:  

Step 1 – Print the Turkey Template:
Cut out the shapes and trace them onto the construction paper. The beak and feet are yellow (or orange), and the turkey’s body is black and red. The red is the smaller body portion. The turkey’s beard is also red.

Step 2 – Make the Body:
Glue the smaller red body portion to the larger black body portion. Glue this to the paper bag.

Step 3 – Add the Feet:
Glue the turkey’s feet to the bottom of the bag, just under the black portion of the body.

Step 4 – Assemble the Turkey’s Face:
Glue the beak to the center of the upper portion of the bag with the turkey’s beard behind the edge of the beak. Add paper eyes or googly eyes.

Step 5 – Arrange the Leaves:
Now it’s time to arrange the leaves the way you want them. Put the smaller leaves in the front with the larger leaves in the back. Create a layered look to make the turkey look like he has more feathers. Don’t glue or tape the leaves at this point. Just arrange them the way you like them.

Step 6 – Glue the Leaves Together:
Now that you have your leaves the way you want them, glue the layers together. Use a hot glue gun if you want it to dry quickly, or school glue which needs more time to dry. Glue each leaf layer together and let dry (if applicable).

Step 7 – Attach the Leaf Feathers to the Back:
Now it’s time to give your turkey his feathers! Flip the turkey puppet over to the backside. Tape the leaves into place at the stems. Then, using your hot glue gun, add a dab of glue under each leaf layer to make it extra secure. Allow the glue to dry before flipping the turkey back over.

Step 8 – You’re Done!:
Now your turkey paper bag puppet is finished, and it’s time to play.

For more information and step-by-step photos, check out the original post by Gluesticks + Gumdrops here.

Annual Trunk or Treat

Our Halloween Trunk or Treat was a smashing success! We had a great time seeing your family costumes and passing out treats. Thanks so much to everyone for coming out…we can’t wait to celebrate more events with you. Here are some pictures from the event!

Congratulations to our Trunk Decoration Winners! A huge thank you to everyone who participated and showed off their spooky decorations.

Pumpkin Pancake Muffins

Looking for a way to pumpkin-spice up your breakfast? These pumpkin pancake muffins are perfect for a quick breakfast on the go.
Ingredients: 

  • Baking spray with flour, Such as Bakers Joy or Pam
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoon monk fruit sweetener or granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature is best
  • 2 cups fat free milk, unsweetened almond milk, or milk of choice
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons oil
  • Maple syrup of your choice, for serving

Instructions: 

  • Preheat oven to 375F.  Spray a 12-cup non-stick muffin tin generously with baking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients from flour to salt.  Whisk to combine.
  • In a medium bowl, combine wet ingredients from eggs to oil. Whisk to combine then pour mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Whisk until JUST combined.  Don’t over mix.  There will be lumps but don’t worry.
  • Fill 12 muffin tins to the top with batter.
  • Place in the oven and bake 22-25 minutes, rotating halfway through bake time, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes then with a paring knife or off set spatula, gently remove muffins from tin and transfer to cooling rack.
  • These are pancakes, not muffins so they will need syrup or honey to top them, just like pancakes do! You can use whatever you prefer.Check out the full recipe by SkinnyTaste.